Tool for lifting and carrying elongated objects

ABSTRACT

A hand-held pipe tool comprises a curvilinear rod having a series of curved segments and straight segments that form a cradle capable of grasping an elongated object such as a pipe or a hose. The curvilinear rod has a handle on one end that preferably comprises a foam rubber or other resilient material to facilitate grasping the tool under slippery or wet conditions.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 60/197,951 filed Apr. 17, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] This invention relates generally to tools for lifting andcarrying elongated objects such as pipes and hoses.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] In oil field operations, it is frequently necessary to manuallylift and carry oil field pipe or frac pipe. Similarly, in firefightingoperations, fire hoses must be lifted and carried by hand. Typically,such pipes and hoses must be handled under wet and slippery conditions,which are generally hazardous to the personnel involved. Additionally,such pipes and hoses are generally quite heavy and difficult to handle,even under dry conditions, which causes physical fatigue in thepersonnel involved.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,361,658, issued to Murphy on Nov. 8, 1994,discloses a hand tool for guiding a rubber hose being wound on a reel.The Murphy tool comprises a helix depending from a T-shaped handle. Thehelix is adapted for receiving a hose such that the hose runs lengthwisealong the axis of the helix. Although the Murphy tool appears to becapable of guiding a flexible rubber hose, rope, or cable onto a reel,the Murphy tool is not directed to lifting and carrying heavy,relatively stiff, elongated objects such as steel pipe or fire hoses.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,476, issued to Massey on Jun. 18, 1991,discloses a tool for assisting in manually raising a heavy elongatedarticle a small distance (e.g., a few inches) off a firm surface so thata lifting sling may be passed beneath the article. The Massey toolcomprises a handle having a pair of co-acting, part-cylindrical jawmembers that operate in a scissor-like manner for gripping the articleto be raised, and a fulcrum projects from one of the jaw members onwhich the tool can be pivoted to raise the article a short distance offthe surface. Although the Massey tool is directed to handling heavyelongated objects such as oil field pipe, the Massey tool involvesmechanically moving parts, which makes it relatively complex andexpensive to manufacture. Further, the Massey tool is not directed to beused for manually carrying such pipe.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,791,704, issued to Thompson et al. on Aug. 11,1998, discloses a tool for manipulating irrigation pipes. The Thompsonet al. tool involves a pivotally mounted arcuate jaw with a handlesecured thereto, and a second arcuate jaw fixedly mounted to the handle.A spring biases the jaw members into clamping engagement with anirrigation pipe. The Thompson et al. tool is directed primarily toturning, connecting, and disconnecting irrigation pipe without theoperator having to bend over and grasp the pipe by hand. Like the Masseytool described above, the Thompson et al. tool involves moving parts,which makes it relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, and itis not directed to be used for manually carrying such pipe.

[0009] Thus, a need exists for a simple tool with no moving parts thatwould allow personnel to easily grasp, lift, and carry pipes, hoses, andother heavy elongated objects, particularly under wet and slipperyconditions. Such a tool would increase safety and decrease physicalfatigue of pipe handling personnel. Such a tool would also be simple touse, inexpensive to manufacture, and maintenance-free.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0010] To overcome the disadvantages of the existing tools describedabove, a tool in accordance with the present invention comprises asimple rod having a series of curved segments and straight segments thatform a cradle capable of grasping an elongated object such as a pipe ora hose. The curvilinear rod has a handle on one end that preferablycomprises a foam rubber or other resilient material to facilitategrasping the tool under slippery or wet conditions.

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple toolwith no moving parts for grasping, lifting, and carrying elongatedobjects such as pipes and hoses.

[0012] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a toolfor grasping, lifting, and carrying elongated objects under slippery andwet conditions.

[0013] Further objects and advantages of the present invention will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the annexed sheets of drawings,which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tool in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 being engagedwith a section of pipe.

[0016]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tool of FIG. 1 fully engagedwith a section of pipe.

[0017]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternative tool in accordancewith the present invention.

[0018]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of another alternative tool inaccordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, a tool 10 in accordance with the presentinvention preferably comprises a handle 12 depending from a rod 13having a series of straight segments 14, 16, 20 and curved segments 18,22 that form a cradle capable of engaging an elongated object (notshown), such as a pipe or a hose. When properly positioned with respectto tool 10, such an elongated object will lie generally along axis 32and will be engaged with curved segments 18 and 22 of rod 13 such thatthe elongated object may be lifted and carried by manually graspinghandle 12. Preferably, straight segment 16 is substantiallyperpendicular to straight segment 14, and straight segment 20 issubstantially parallel to straight segment 14. Preferably, curvedsegments 18 and 22 are coaxial and are disposed in substantiallyparallel planes that are substantially perpendicular to straight segment20. Curved segments 18 and 22 are generally opposed to one another asshown, and the combined circumference of curved segments 18 and 22preferably encompasses slightly more than 360 degrees. To provideincreased stiffness to rod 13, a gusset 24 may be secured to segments 14and 16 of rod 13, and a gusset 26 may be secured to segments 16 and 18of rod 13. Handle 12 may be integral to rod 13, or handle 12 may be aseparate piece fastened to rod 13.

[0020] The use of tool 10 in lifting a pipe 30 is illustrated in FIGS. 2and 3. As shown in FIG. 2, the process of engaging tool 10 with pipe 30begins with placing pipe 30 between curved segments 18 and 22.Initially, pipe 30 is oriented generally transverse to straight segment20 of rod 13. To engage tool 10 on pipe 30, tool 10 is rotated by movinghandle 12 in the direction indicated by arrow 28 until straight segment20 of rod 13 and handle 12 are generally parallel to pipe 30 as shown inFIG. 3. In the fully engaged position shown in FIG. 3, curved segment 18supports the lower portion of pipe 30, and curved segment 22 engages theupper portion of pipe 30 such that pipe 30 may be lifted and carried bymanually grasping handle 12.

[0021]FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate alternative handles for a tool inaccordance with the present invention. Specifically, FIG. 4 shows a tool110 having a handle 112 that is substantially perpendicular to segment114, and FIG. 5 shows a tool 210 having a handle 212 attached to segment214 with a U-shaped bracket 215. Other suitable handles could also beincorporated into a tool embodying this invention so long as anappropriate series of straight segments and curved segments are providedfor grasping an elongated object.

[0022] If tool 10 is to be used for lifting and carrying oil field pipeor frac pipe, rod 13 is preferably made from ½-inch diameter steel,which may be heated and formed into the shape shown in FIG. 1. Rod 13may also be manufactured by other processes, such as machining orcasting, and materials other than steel may also be used. Rod 13 ispreferably coated with a rubber or plastic material so that segments 18and 22 will more effectively grip pipe 30, particularly when pipe 30 isslippery from a liquid such as oil or water. Similarly, handle 12preferably comprises a foam rubber material or other suitable resilientmaterial that may be grasped more effectively under slippery or wetconditions such as those frequently encountered in the oil field oraround fire hoses. Although the primary application of this invention iscontemplated in connection with oil field pipe or fire hoses, thisinvention may be applied to advantage in any endeavor in which elongatedobjects must be moved. Additionally, although the present invention isintended primarily as a manual tool, it will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art that handle 12 may be replaced by a suitable fittingthat would allow tool 10 to be attached to a machine that could be usedto lift and move the desired elongated objects.

[0023] Although the foregoing specific details describe a preferredembodiment of this invention, persons reasonably skilled in the art willrecognize that various changes may be made in the details of thisinvention without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventionas defined in the appended claims Therefore, it should be understoodthat this invention is not to be limited to the specific details shownand described herein.

We claim:
 1. A tool for grasping and moving an elongated object having acentral axis, said tool comprising: a rod having a first curved segmentand a second curved segment spaced apart from said first curved segment,said first and second curved segments being generally opposed to oneanother; and a handle depending from said rod; wherein said first andsecond curved segments are engageable with the elongated object suchthat the elongated object may be lifted by lifting said handle.
 2. Thetool of claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a resilient material. 3.The tool of claim 1 wherein said first curved segment is disposed withina first plane and said second curved segment is disposed within a secondplane that is substantially parallel to said first plane.
 4. The tool ofclaim 3 wherein said first and second curved segments are substantiallycoaxial.
 5. The tool of claim 4 wherein said tool is positionable suchthat the central axis of the elongated object is substantially coaxialwith said first and second curved segments.
 6. The tool of claim 4wherein the combined circumference of said first and second curvedsegments encompasses about 360 degrees.
 7. The tool of claim 4 whereinthe combined circumference of said first and second curved segmentsencompasses slightly more than 360 degrees.
 8. The tool of claim 3wherein said handle is generally straight and substantiallyperpendicular to said first and second planes.
 9. The tool of claim 3wherein said handle is generally straight and substantially parallel tosaid first and second planes.
 10. A tool for grasping and moving anelongated object having a central axis and an upper portion and a lowerportion, said tool comprising: a rod having a first curved segment and asecond curved segment spaced apart from said first curved segment, saidfirst curved segment being disposed within a first plane and said secondcurved segment being disposed within a second plane substantiallyparallel to said first plane, said first and second curved segmentsbeing generally opposed to one another, said first and second curvedsegments being connected with a first straight segment substantiallyperpendicular to said first and second planes, said rod further having asecond straight segment connected to said first curved segment, saidsecond straight segment being substantially perpendicular to said firststraight segment, said rod further having a third straight segmentconnected to said second straight segment, said third straight segmentbeing substantially parallel to said first straight segment; and ahandle depending from said third straight segment of said rod, saidhandle comprising a resilient material; wherein said first curvedsegment is adapted for supporting the lower portion of the elongatedobject and said second curved segment is adapted for engaging the upperportion of the elongated object such that the elongated object may belifted by lifting said handle.
 11. The tool of claim 10 furthercomprising a gusset connected to said first curved segment and saidsecond straight segment.
 12. The tool of claim 10 further comprising agusset connected to said second straight segment and said third straightsegment.
 13. The tool of claim 10 further comprising: a first gussetconnected to said first curved segment and said second straight segment;and a second gusset connected to said second straight segment and saidthird straight segment.
 14. The tool of claim 10 wherein the combinedcircumference of said first and second curved segments encompasses about360 degrees.
 15. The tool of claim 10 wherein the combined circumferenceof said first and second curved segments encompasses slightly more than360 degrees.